Upright gluteus isolation weightlifting machine

ABSTRACT

Weightlifting apparatus may be used by a person in a standing position to exercise gluteus muscles. The apparatus may include a pivoting exercise assembly configured to be positioned at hip level of the person and to be pivoted by a leg of the person. A shoulder brace assembly may be configured to provide constraint against a shoulder of the person. A chest brace assembly may be configured to provide constraint against a chest of the person.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application 61309792 filed on Mar. 2, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to weightlifting and training equipment and methods and, more particularly, to machines and methods for enhancing gluteus muscle groups.

Training of athletes may include certain exercises performed in a weight room or workout room. In some instances, specialized machines may be provided to allow athletes to develop and enhance particular muscle groups. One particularly important muscle group is the gluteus group. However, most athletic training rooms do not have machines which may be used to specifically develop and enhance gluteus muscles.

As can be seen, there is a need for an effective machine-oriented training system for developing and enhancing gluteus muscles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, weightlifting apparatus for use by a person in a standing position to exercise gluteus muscles may comprise a pivoting exercise assembly configured to be positioned at hip level of the person and to be pivoted by a leg of the person; a shoulder brace assembly is configured to provide constraint against a shoulder of the person; and chest brace assembly is configured to provide constraint against a chest of the person.

In another aspect of the present invention, a weightlifting apparatus may comprise weights; a pivoting exercise assembly; a cable interconnecting the weights and the pivoting exercise assembly; and a force-equalizing crescent attached to the pivoting exercise assembly, wherein a portion of the cable passes over the force-equalizing crescent so that force applied to the pivoting exercise assembly by the weights is equalized as the pivoting exercise assembly is pivoted.

In still another aspect of the present invention, a method for exercising gluteus muscles may comprise the steps of bracing a shoulder of an exercising person against a shoulder brace assembly; raising a knee of the exercising person to hip level; placing the knee over a pad of a pivoting exercise assembly; pushing the pad downwardly against resistance of weights attached to the pivoting exercise assembly; and continuing downward pushing until a leg of the exercising person is straight and is extended behind the person.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a weightlifting machine in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a pivoting exercise assembly of the machine of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side views of a person using the machine of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are rear views of a person using the machine of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide an exercise machine in which a user may exercise gluteus muscles while remaining in an erect standing position.

Referring now to the Figures, an exemplary embodiment of a gluteus-isolating weightlifting machine 10 may comprise a frame 12, hand grips 13, a weight stack 14, variable weight adjustments 15, guide bars 16, a pulley 18, a cable 20, a shoulder brace assembly 22, an adjustment 24 for the assembly 22, shoulder braces 25, a chest brace assembly 26, an adjustment 28 for the assembly 26, chest support pads 30 for the assembly 26, a pivoting exercise assembly 32, an adjustment 34 for the assembly 32, pads 36 for the assembly 32, a force-equalizing crescent 38 and a pivot 40.

In operation, a user may adjust weights and positions of components of the machine as desired and then approach either a left side or a right side of the machine 10. Upon approaching the left side, for example, the user may perform motions as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The user's right leg may be placed over the pad 36 of the assembly 32. The user may grasp one of the hand grips 13 with his or her left hand. The user's right shoulder may be positioned against the shoulder brace assembly 22 and a hand grip 42 may be grasped with the user's right hand. The user may then press downwardly with his or her right leg to force the pad 36 to move on an ark-like path from a relaxed-starting position shown in FIG. 3 to an extended- force-exertion position shown in FIG. 4. As the pivoting exercise assembly 32 pivots about the pivot 40, a portion of the cable 20 may engage with the crescent 38. Interaction between the cable 20 and the crescent 38 may result in equalization of force applied to the pad 36 by the weights 14 as the pad moves though its ark motion.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 it may be seem that the user may exercise his or her left leg by entering the right side of the machine using motions corresponding to those described above.

The machine may be provided with various adjustment features so that it may be properly fitted to the size of a user. For example, a starting location of the pad 36 of the pivoting exercise assembly 32 may be positioned at a hip height of the user so that the user's hamstring may transfer resistance to the user's gluteus muscles. Also, positioning of the shoulder brace assembly 22 and the chest brace assembly 26 may be adjusted to provide a stable working position for the user.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. Weightlifting apparatus for use by a person in a standing position to exercise gluteus muscles, comprising: a pivoting exercise assembly configured to be positioned at hip level of the person and to be pivoted by a leg of the person; a shoulder brace assembly configured to provide constraint against a shoulder of the person; and a chest brace assembly configured to provide constraint against a chest of the person.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pivoting exercise assembly includes a pad located to be positioned under a knee of the person when the person is in a relaxed exercise-starting position.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pad is located behind the knee of the person when the person is in an extended-force exertion position.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a cable connected between the pivoting exercise assembly and a set of weights; and a force-equalizing crescent attached to the pivoting exercise assembly, wherein a portion of the cable passes over the force-equalizing crescent so that force applied to the pivoting exercise assembly by the weights is equalized as the pivoting exercise assembly is pivoted.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shoulder brace assembly is configured to be adjustably positioned at a top of a shoulder of the person.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the shoulder brace assembly includes a hand grip.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pivoting exercise assembly, the shoulder brace assembly and the chest brace assembly are configured to have right and left hand sides so that either a right or left leg of the person can pivot the pivoting exercise assembly.
 8. A weightlifting apparatus comprising: weights; a pivoting exercise assembly; a cable interconnecting the weights and the pivoting exercise assembly; and a force-equalizing crescent attached to the pivoting exercise assembly, wherein a portion of the cable passes over the force-equalizing crescent so that force applied to the pivoting exercise assembly by the weights is equalized as the pivoting exercise assembly is pivoted.
 9. A method for exercising gluteus muscles comprising the steps of: bracing a shoulder of an exercising person against a shoulder brace assembly; raising a knee of the exercising person to hip level; placing the knee over a pad of a pivoting exercise assembly; pushing the pad downwardly against resistance of weights attached to the pivoting exercise assembly; continuing downward pushing until a leg of the exercising person is straight and is extended behind the person.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of bracing a chest of the exercising person against a chest brace assembly 